Some of New Jersey’s biggest county governments are making millions holding detained immigrants for the federal government as the Trump administration continues its crackdown on illegal immigration, according to a new report.

The money ICE pays the New Jersey counties has climbed 46 percent between January 2015 and March 2018, according to invoices provided to WNYC by the counties.

About 2,000 immigrants can be held at the three county jails, the report said. Many are immigrants living in the country illegally who are awaiting deportation hearings. Others are applying for asylum. Some can stay in the jails for years.

Here are the average monthly payments by ICE to the three counties, according to the WNYC report:

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Essex County

Average monthly payment from ICE in 2015: $1,862,748

Average monthly payment from ICE in 2018: $2,755,818

Increase: 48 percent

Hudson County

Average monthly payment from ICE in 2015: $1,276,155

Average monthly payment from ICE in 2018: $1,953,820

Increase: 53 percent

Bergen County

Average monthly payment from ICE in 2015: $355,373

Average monthly payment from ICE in 2018: $1,114,556

Increase: 214 percent

Why are county jails holding immigrants for ICE?

The federal agency has hundreds of contracts with local jails and private prison contractors to hold immigrant detainees.